Discounted bus travel for younger people in Wales

Transcription

1 Number: WG35458 Welsh Government Consultation summary of response Discounted bus travel for younger people in Wales June 2018 Mae r ddogfen yma hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg. This document is also available in Welsh. 1 Crown Copyright Digital ISBN

2 Introduction...3 Overview of responses...4 Next steps...6 List of Respondents...7 2

3 Introduction Prior to the scheduled ending of the MyTravelPass (MTP) pilot on 31 March 2017, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure issued on 21 February 2017 a Written Statement about Youth Bus Travel 1, its future and an initial analysis of the scheme. This initial analysis suggested that few younger people use the bus to travel outside their immediate area. This may be because their schools, colleges, places of training or work, or their friends and social activities do not require them to travel further. In his Written Statement the Cabinet Secretary confirmed the establishment of a wide-ranging consultation exercise to discuss with young people, including schools, colleges and bus companies a scheme that is attractive, can practically support them in their life, work and study and will encourage modal shift. The MTP consultation sought views about a range of possible enhancements to the current scheme. These included the categories of journeys which might be eligible for discounted travel; whether the age of eligibility and size of discount should be changed; and alternative methods for contributing towards the cost, including a fixed contribution per journey or a monthly/annual pass for free travel at the point of use. To avoid any accusations of leading or influencing respondents choices, no indicative funding statements were included in the paper. It is important to note that, whilst the Welsh Government recognises the value of discounted bus travel for all those persons listed, challenging funding settlements from the UK Government mean difficult decisions are likely to continue to be necessary, including those regarding discounted bus travel for younger people in Wales. In addition to the normal circulation process details of the consultation exercise were also shared with officials within Welsh Government dealing with those areas where views were sought on extending the discount for example, to volunteers and apprentices. MyTravelPass, the scheme administrators set up by PTI (Traveline) Cymru, was asked to make its contacts aware of the consultation exercise, and has indicated that it reached over 3,000 people with information about the consultation using a variety of mechanisms - social activity (Google AdWords, search text ads and Facebook), a banner on the MyTravelPass website with a link to the consultation included information on the consultation, by s to relevant organisations, through the Traveline Cymru customer panel and an article on the Traveline Cymru website. In addition, five focus groups were staged for young persons across Wales

4 Overview of responses Responses to the consultation that ran between 10 October 2017 and 4 January 2018 were received by and in writing. Some respondents answered all the questions on which we sought views, despite some being dependent on a Yes or No answer to the preceding question, and one response features a group s % score for each question and component. A total of 116 responses were received from organisations and individuals. Two responses were received after the closing date, but have been considered. Where responses from, for example, a college, identified the number of votes for each question, each vote was recorded as a separate entry in the analysis, so the total below is greater than the number of responses received. The number of respondents in the analysis was as follows. Local Education Authority (schools/colleges) % Individual % % % Community group % Bus operator % Trades unions % % Transport industry % Advisory group % Commissioner/Ombudsman % Health sector % Disability group 0 0% Emergency services 0 0% Media 0 0% Other (please state) 0 0% Individual respondents disclosed that they fell into the following age groups, and two indicated that they considered themselves to be disabled. Under & over No age given % 39.13% 13.04% 2.17% 17.39% 15.22% 8.70% 4

5 Analysis of responses indicated: Strong agreement that lower bus fares influence young people s choice of transport. Two thirds of responses felt that the current age range of is not appropriate. 28% of respondents want age increased to 21; with 26% wanting an upper age limit of % do not consider the current discount rate appropriate to attract greater bus use by young people. Respondents favoured a rate of 50%. 70% of respondents agree with a fixed contribution per journey from younger persons as a suitable alternative to the one-third discount, and 40% agreed it should be 1. 32% would agree to a monthly fee of 10 to obtain free travel at the point of use. 31% would agree to an annual fee of 50 to obtain free travel at the point of use. 84% felt that journeys would be delayed if the discount were restricted to selected journey types. If discount were restricted to selected journey types then these should be for education (32%), commuting (17%) and health (6%). 76% of respondents favoured including persons in receipt of Educational Maintenance Allowance in the scheme. Very strong support for including those in education, whether full-time (91%) or part-time (82%) in such a scheme. Very strong support for including those in recognised apprentice schemes (85%) and at any age (37%). Very strong support for including registered carers (78%) and at any age (42%). Strong support for including people undertaking voluntary work (63%) and at any age (30%). Strong support for including people holding a Job Centre Plus Travel Discount Card (63%). 5

6 Next steps This report is published to provide details of the responses received to the Welsh Government s consultation on the future of its discounted bus travel scheme for younger persons. Current legislation does not allow the Welsh Government to make it a requirement of bus operators that they offer specific discounts to younger persons aged 16 to 18 not in full-time education. Bus operators that carry MTP passholders at a discount have made it clear to the Welsh Government that they require to be fully compensated for doing so. Consequently, the content of the new MTP scheme that will be introduced in will be subject to a successful negotiation of its terms with bus operators. It is important to note whilst the Welsh Government recognises the value of discounted bus travel for all those persons listed, challenging funding settlements mean difficult decisions may well be required about which option might be affordable in continuing to offer discounted bus travel for younger people in Wales. The identified budget will also need to meet the cost of administering the scheme, which is currently the responsibility of MyTravelPass, its marketing and promotion, and for the production and issue of passes. All these costs fall to the Welsh Government. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport has indicated his hope is that the age range will be increased to those aged 21 years during As part of this, Welsh Government officials will be discussing his decisions and its implications with representatives of the bus industry, local authorities and Bus Users Cymru to reach a consensus on what will be the new scheme. Until that has been resolved, the current discounted bus travel scheme for 16 to 18 years old will continue unchanged. 6

7 List of Respondents Category Name Advisory Group Skillnet Limited Cardiff Bus CPT First Cymru Buses Ltd Newport Bus Phil Anslow Ltd South Wales Transport (Neath) Ltd Stagecoach in South Wales Commissioner/Ombudsman Children s Commissioner for Wales Community Group Flintshire Youth Forum Community Group Pembrokeshire Youth Assembly Community Group Travelling Ahead Community Group Vale Youth Forum Health sector NHS Wales Individual 46 Local Education authority/college Blackwood Comp Year 11 Local Education authority/college Caerphilly Youth Forum Cabinet group Local Education authority/college Caerphilly Youth Forum Group 1 and 2 Local Education authority/college Lewis Girls Group 1 and 2 Local Education authority/college Newtown high School Student Assembly Local Education authority/college Coleg Cambria Local Education authority/college Ystrad Mynach College IT class Bay of Colwyn Town Council Cardiff Council City and County of Swansea. Mid Wales regional transport collaboration Mike Rose Newport City Council North Wales 6 Pembrokeshire Council Powys Council Rhondda Cynon Tad County Borough Council and Young Carer s Support Team Torfaen County Borough Council and Social Care & Housing WLGA Wrexham Youth Parliament - England Cheshire West & Chester Council Five names withheld Bus Users Cymru Coleg y Cymoedd North Pembrokeshire Transport Forum Powys Youth Forum Transport focus Wrexham Bidston Rail Users Association Barnardo's Cymru Brake, the road safety charity CTA UK GISDA Swansea City of Sanctuary Trade unions National Education Union Cymru Trade unions NUS Wales Trade unions UCAC National Union of Athrawon Cymru Trade unions UNISON Cymru: Wales Young Members Transport industry Association of Local Bus Company Manager 7

8 Category Transport industry Transport industry Name PTI Cymru (Traveline Cymru) Public Transport Logistics Consultant 8